Skin Deep

Chapter 4

Luna's POV

"For today, we are gonna talk about the scoring system..."

"My God.Akala ko tapos na tayo sa mga ganyan."

Bulong saakin ni Frida.May point siya though.It's been a week since first day of school pero yan parin mga pinag-uusapan namin.Nakapag elect na kami ng mga officers para sa student council pero still, we're stuck in this lame-o classroom talking about school policies for the whole week.

"Nga pala, Luna.Sorry di kita natour dito sa campus.Ako kasi ang prefect dito sa class kaya I have to  make sure na walang nawawala o napapahamak sa mga classmates ko."

"It's fine.I can manage" 

"Basta kapag may problema, you tell me okay"

I simply nodded.As days pass by,Frida became less irritating and more sensitive.Hindi siya katak ng katak when she's around me.Which I kind of like dahil una sa lahat ayaw ko ang mga maingay.Lalo na kapag wala namang saysay ang sasabihin.Don't get me wrong.I still don't want to associate myself with her.

"Luna?" The teacher caught my attention.

"Can you please give this to Mr. Bobbie?Nasa court siya nagsespectate ng game"

Tumayo ako at kinuha ang isang folder sa kamay niya.I'd rather give this folder to Mr. Bobbie than to stay there and listen to all the rules and policies for the nth time.Plus, baka maganda pa ang laban ng basketball duon.

Lumabas na ako ng classroom at medyo nalito pa ako pero mabuti nalang tinulungan ako ng guard.Pagkarating ko sa gymnasium, nakakita ako ng mga sobra sampung tao na naglalaban sa loob ng court.Seems like they're practicing.Lumapit naman ako sa isang lalaki na naka polo at slacks.

"Are you Mr. Bobbie?" Tanong ko.

"Oh yes.What can I do for you?"

I gave to him the folder.Binuksan niya iyon at binasa ang mga nanduon.Then he looked at me and said his thanks.I simply nodded.Akmang aalis na ako ng may tumawag sa pangalan ko.Napatingin naman ako sa direksyon na iyon.

"Luna!"

Sigaw ni Zander habang tumatakbo papunta saakin.Nagpupunas siya ng kanyang pawis at uminom sa kanyang tumbler.Ngayon lang ulit kami nagpansinan simula nung dinner namin.Aasarin nanaman ako nito for sure.Okay na sana eh, nakita pa niya ako.

"Came here to see me?" Sabi niya habang tumataas baba ang kanyang kilay.God.Will he ever stop?Inirapan ko siya and I sarcastically smiled at him.

"No.Infact, aalis na ako."

I was about to leave nang pumunta pa ang ibang mga lalaki saakin.They blocked my way and there's no way out.I started to feel anxious and worried.I kept my composure.I tried my best to not look uncomfortable and kept my cool.

"Pakilala mo naman kami Zander!"

"She is Luna.Now back off."

"Oh man.You really are whipped"

Inasar si Zander ng mga team mates niya.Umalis na sila and it's just me and Zander.Hindi ko na siya pinansin at nagpasya akong umalis pero agad yung naudlot ng hawakan ni Zander and balikat ko.

"Ano nanaman ba?!" Irita kong tanong sakanya.

"Para sayo to"

Sabi niya at tumakbo pabalik sa court.Kumuha siya ng bola at shinoot niya iyon.He winked at me and smiled victoriously.Nashoot niya yung bola.Napahawak nalang ako sa noo ko but I can't help but slightly smile.Tuluyan na akong umalis doon at bumalik na sa classroom namin.

--

Break time na and as usual I am all by myself.For the whole week ganoon lang ang get up ko.Walang Frida, walang Zander, walang iba kung hindi ako lang.Not that I need their company.I am fine by my own.

"Oh Luna.Bakit nag-iisa kalang?" Nabalik ako sa huwisyo ng marinig ko ang isang pamilyar na boses.It was Frida.

"I'm usually alone." I answered blankly as i played with the vegetables on my plate.Hindi kasi ako big eater.I like eating something light for lunch para hindi mabigat sa pakiramdam.

"Eh ilang beses akong nagoffer sayo, ayaw mo namang sabayan kita.Ano ba talagang deal mo ha?" She asked with annoyance evident on her voice.I was astonished.Wow.This girl must really want to be my friend.Hindi siya tumitigil eh.

"Fine.You can eat with me then" 

Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ang mga salitang iyon.My brain said no but I literally just allowed her to eat with me.Betraying yourself eh? She was giggling and smiling as she sat down in front of me.Nilabas niya ang lunch box mula sa isang bag.I chuckled a little bit.

"Bakit ka ngumingisi diyan? Dahil ba sa pinapabaunan pa ako" She asked with a teasing smile.

"I'm just wondering.Like, Why?"

"Gets rin naman kita.Tinanong ko rin yan sa sarili ko.Bakit pa ako pinapabaunan eh and tanda ko na eh?!" Sabi niya at sabay halakhak.I slightly smiled, a little awkward.

"So why do you still bring lunch?" I asked.

"Okay, this is gonna be a long story so stay with me okay?" 

"I guess I'll try." 

"Okay.Bawal kasi ako sa mga maraming preservatives.Kaya pineprepare mismo ng Mommy ko ang pagkain ko."

"Why is that?"

"I had a problem with my heart before.Mahilig kasi ako mag eat out with friends tapos mga steak, inasal eme-eme.So nagpunta kami sa tita ko na doctor tapos sinabi saakin na iwasan ko na daw mga mapreservatives na pagkain.Baka maglead daw sa cancer." I paused for a moment.

"Luna?" I snapped back.

"Ah...uhm.Is your heart okay?" 

"Uyyyy concerned siya" My face went blank and expressionless.She pouted at me and chewed her food.

"Ito talaga hindi mabiro.Oo!Okay na heart ko noh ano ka ba?Kaya ko lang hinahayaan iprepare ako ng pagkain ng Mommy ko kasi sabi niya masaya na siya duon, kaya kahit pwede na ako sa ibang pagkain, kinakain ko nalang mga luto niya."

I came into a realization.This girl whom I've loathed before for being too optimistic and carefree, now I have finally understand as to why she is the way she is.She have all the right reasons to be happy, to feel joy and to be glad.

"You're lucky"

"Hindi ah.Ang tabang tabang kaya!" She laughed.I just stared at her and thought to myself, She is really lucky.

"Syempre joke lang!Masarap naman luto ni Mommy.Gusto mo tikman?" I hesitantly nodded my head and said "Okay".Kinain ko ang pagkain niya and I must say, for a food with no preservatives, this is pretty decent.

"Masarap ba?" Tanong niya saakin.

"It's good." 

She smiled at me.All throughout, nag-usap lang kami tungkol sa buhay niya.Simula pagkabata hanggang ngayon, kinwento niya saakin.What's weird is, I find them seemingly interesting.Every detail of them I was entertained, lalo na kapag tungkol sa moments nila ng Mommy niya.Then I felt wistful.I wish I have these many stories to tell.I wish i could be positive as she is.

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N: This UD's a kind of short but I hope you still liked it.I hope you can see Luna's progress especially on this chapter.That's it.Keep reading.